Platform and driver for coal mining system

ABSTRACT

A mining system for advancing and retrieving a mining vehicle such as a miner, material transfer units or, shields into and out of mines. The system includes a platform from which the vehicle is advanced into a mine by means of a pusher. Subsequent vehicles are placed onto the platform, connected to the preceding vehicle and then advanced into the mine. If desired, shields and a miner or material transfer unit may be simultaneously advanced into the mine in the same manner. To retrieve the vehicle, the pusher is reversed and pulls each vehicle from the mine in reverse order. If desired, the shields may remain in the mine and the miner and transfer units may be pulled from within the shields. The platform further includes a system for removing the mined ore from the transfer units as it is delivered from the mine.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/475,974, filed Jun. 5, 2003. The present application is related to copending U.S. patent applications Ser. No. ______, entitled “Shield System For Coal Mining” and Ser. No. ______, entitled “Advancer For Coal Mining System” filed Jun. 7, 2004, both herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The invention is generally related to an improved system for coal mining. More particularly, the invention is directed to a platform for high wall mining.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] Highwall mining is generally a method of mining whereby a remote controlled continuous miner is sent into a face of coal, or other ore, from an outside bench to mine or cut such ore out from under the overburden above. The continuous miner will generally cut out the ore in widths ranging from six to twelve feet in width and up to fourteen feet in height, depending on the size of miner used. As the miner is remotely controlled from outside into the ore, units for transferring the mined ore, called “cars” or “beams,” are sequentially sent into the mine, forming a continuous train and transferring the ore from car to car to the outside bench. Various methods are incorporated into the units for transferring the ore, including conveyors, chains and screws. Likewise various methods are used to power the transferring units, including electrical, hydraulics and/or mechanical drive shafts. The cars or beams are generally either coupled or pinned together, allowing some degree of deflection between them to improve negotiation of the rough surface in the mine.

[0004] On the outside of the mine, a launch platform is positioned to receive the transferred material as it is discharged from the rear car or beam and direct it either to a truck or stockpile via belt conveyors and/or chain conveyors. The launch platform also acts as a staging area to insert and retrieve the cars as needed and also act as a drive station to either hydraulically, electrically or mechanically drive or push the cars into the mine.

[0005] Additional roof problems are created by not controlling the direction of the miner precisely as it is driven into the mine. If the mine is not steered properly, the pillar or rib in between two mines can be cut. When the system cuts through the pillar exposing the width of two cuts, which can be as much as twelve feet in width each, twenty feet or more of unsupported roof is exposed. This greatly increases the potential for major roof falls, thus increasing the potential for entrapment.

[0006] Systems commonly used today require significant force to push the transfer units and mine into particularly deep mines. In deep mines, this force often causes the cars to buckle up and down throughout the hole binding. Because of this, the depth to which they can be pushed is limited.

[0007] Current disclosed methods of remote mining in ore deposits such as coal generally employ a mining machine that excavates mine openings to some distance from the seam exposure on the surface and a system for conveying the mined ore to the surface. In most of the present systems, the system for conveying consists of multiple conveyors which are advanced into the mine openings from the surface. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,644,753 and 6,220,670 issued to Mraz disclose a method and apparatus for mining of aggregate material from a seam which includes a mining apparatus and a self-propelled conveyor capable of advancing or retreating in the seam on its own power and an advancing and steering arrangement for the mining apparatus.

[0008] U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,112,111, 5,232,269, 5,261,729 and 5,364,171 to Addington at al. disclose an assembly of conveyors and a mining machine advanced into the seam without interrupting the flow of aggregate material by separate means designed to pull at the forward end and push at the rearward end. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,609,397 to Marshall at al. discloses an assembly of conveyors interconnected with a mining machine and a driving device located outside the seam and consisting of rack and pinion or, alternately, reciprocating cylinders, linear tracks, linear or rotary drives, chains, cables or other mechanical devices. U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,807 to Zimmerman discloses a guidance assembly for extending and retracting an assembly of conveyors into and out of the seam. U.S. Pat. No. 3,497,055 to Oslakovic at al. discloses a multi-unit train of conveyors having a self-propelled unit at each end coupled to intermediate units, each end unit being capable of towing the intermediate units. U.S. Pat. No. 2,826,402 to Alspaugh at al. discloses a train of wheeled conveyor sections pulled into the mine opening and pushed out of it by a self-propelled mining machine. Buckling of the train is avoided by the grooves made by the mining machine in the floor, said grooves spaced the same distance as the treads of the wheels carrying the conveyor sections.

[0009] At present, material transfer units, such as cars and beams, are pushed from a platform external to the mine into the mined hole by cylinders. The strong forward push of the cylinder moves the units into the mine while the weak backward pull of the cylinder is used to retrieve the units from the mine. In fact, more force is often needed to retrieve the units from the mine in the event rock has fallen on top of the units or, more particularly, in the event the units become entrapped by a roof cave in.

[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved system for pushing material transfer units for mined material into and out of mines.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved system for pushing shielded or unshielded material transfer units into and out of mines with equal force.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a system for removing a miner and/or material transfer units from within a mine in the event they become entrapped.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved mining system which reduces or eliminates down time caused by falling rocks or cave-ins.

[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved mining system which provides increased control of the transfer units at greater mine depths.

[0015] It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide an improved mining system which provides greater directional control of the miner and transfer units.

[0016] Finally, it is an object of the present invention to accomplish the foregoing objectives in a safe and cost effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0017] A mining system for pushing a mining vehicle, such as a miner, material transfer unit or shield, into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, includes a platform, an advancing means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and a retrieving means for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine. The platform preferably includes a device for leveling the platform as well as controls for controlling a miner, power and water supply to the miner, and miner hydraulics. The mining vehicle is preferably connected to and advanced by an apparatus with at least one drive gear, drive gear belt and a motorized means for driving the drive gear while retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt. The drive gear is preferably a sprocket and the drive gear belt is a chain which accepts the sprocket. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the drive gear is driven by a planetary gear box. The advancing means may be connected to the mining vehicle by a hook and pin system. To retrieve the mining vehicle from the mine, the motorized means operates in reverse.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1a is a side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 1b is an exploded side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 1c is an exploded side view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention, shown in further detail in FIGS. 8a-8 f;

[0021]FIG. 2 is plan view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0022]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of a miner and material transfer units inside a mine;

[0023]FIG. 4a is an exploded side view of connection system as used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 4b is an exploded side view of connection system as used in the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 5a is an end view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 5b is an exploded side view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0027]FIG. 5c is an exploded, cross-sectional side view of the present invention;

[0028]FIG. 5d is an exploded, cross-sectional side view of the present invention;

[0029]FIG. 6a is an end view of a material transfer unit which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0030]FIG. 6b is an end view of a material transfer unit which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0031]FIG. 6c is an end view of a material transfer unit which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 6d is an end view of a material transfer unit which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 6e is an end view of a material transfer unit which can be used with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0034]FIG. 7a is an end view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 7b is an exploded side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7a;

[0036]FIG. 7c is an exploded side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7a;

[0037]FIG. 7d is an exploded side view of another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 7e is an end view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7d; and

[0039]FIG. 7f is an exploded side view of the alternate embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 7d.

ELEMENT LIST

[0040]101 Corner post

[0041]103 Crawlers

[0042]105 Car support

[0043]110 Control booth

[0044]112 Catwalks

[0045]114 Ladders

[0046]115 Cable reels

[0047]120 Platform roof

[0048]125 Switch box

[0049]130 Motors

[0050]137 Chain

[0051]138 Beam/plate

[0052]140 Side discharge conveyor

[0053]145 Shield

[0054]150 Platform belly conveyor

[0055]155 Highwall

[0056]160 Bench

[0057]165 Piggy-back conveyor

[0058]170 Bridge

[0059]200 Driver/puller

[0060]203 Planetary gear boxes

[0061]207 Frame

[0062]209 Drive sprockets

[0063]213 Beam flange

[0064]215 Rollers

[0065]300 Miner

[0066]305 Miner head

[0067]401 Side supporters of shield

[0068]403 Connecting pin for shield

[0069]405 Top plate of shield

[0070]408 Bottom plate of shield

[0071]411 Mine floor

[0072]414 Mine roof

[0073]430 Side frame of material transfer unit

[0074]433 Top belt rollers

[0075]435 Bottom belt return roller

[0076]437 Top (carry) belt

[0077]439 Bottom (return) belt

[0078]441 Pin

[0079]443 Wheel roller

[0080]445 Spring (upwardly biased)

[0081]447 Roller guides (belt alignment)

[0082]450 Head pulley

[0083]451 Tail pulley

[0084]452 Inner hook

[0085]453 Hook on material transfer unit

[0086]454 Outer hook

[0087]455 Keeper pin

[0088]457 Driver bar

[0089]459 Blade

[0090]501 Material transferring unit

[0091]503 Shuttle car on wheels

[0092]504 Movable transfer floor

[0093]505 Tire/wheel

[0094]506 Material transfer unit on rails

[0095]507 Roller guides

[0096]508 Cable carriers

[0097]509 Rail

[0098]510 Rope guide

[0099]511 Railroad wheels

[0100]512 Nonmovable floor

[0101]514 Opening

[0102]550 Continuous belt transfer unit

[0103]913 Push cylinder

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0104] Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1a-7 f show several embodiments of the present invention. As shown, the invention can be used with different types of material transfer units, shielded or unshielded, or shields alone, all capable of being driven or pulled from a mine. While the preferred embodiment is specifically described for a shielded material transfer unit, the invention is clearly applicable to material transfer units used without shields.

[0105] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, FIGS. 1a-1 c show a side view and FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the outside launch platform 105 which acts as a staging unit for inserting shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 into the mined opening. As the shields 145 and material transfer units 501 are fed into the mined opening behind the miner 300 (see FIG. 3), the material transfer units 501 are hooked together as shown in FIGS. 4a and 4 b. A hook 453 from one material transfer unit 501 is placed over a pin 441 on the next material transfer unit 501. A retaining pin 455 may be used to ensure that the hook 453 is retained on the pin 441. This hook and pin connection causes the material transfer units 501 to be pulled behind the miner 300 in succession. The shields 145 may be hooked together in a similar manner. The shields 145 and material transfer units 501 are either pushed into or pulled out of the hole by the driver/puller 200. The driver/puller 200, shown in detail in FIGS. 5a-5 d and 7 a-7 f, rides in chain 137 on beam/plate 138 which travels forward and back along the length of the platform 105. As the driver/puller 200 pushes or pulls the shields 145 and material transfer units 501 in or out, mined material from within the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 can be discharged onto a belly conveyor 150 running the length of the platform 105. The belly conveyor 150 will then carry the mined material to a side discharge conveyor 140 which will transfer the mined material to a stacking conveyor or stockpile. Many different types of material transfer units can be used within the shields 145. One type of transfer unit is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1 b. Multiple piggyback conveyors 165 are attached independently within the shields 145. These conveyors 165 transfer material from one conveyor 165 to another until the material reaches the outside platform 105. Many other types of material transfer units can be used independently within the shields 145; some examples are shown in FIGS. 6a-6 e. These examples are not exhaustive of the types of material transfer units which may be used with the present invention.

[0106] The platform 105 sits on a bench 160 adjacent to the highwall 155 and, if needed, has a bridge 170 to provide transition from the platform 105 over to the mouth of the mine hole. The platform 105 can also carry and support electrical transformers, if needed, in electrical support room 125, cable reels 115 for miner cable, water hoses, control cables and a hydraulic room 130 including pumps, valves and controls. Also, it may carry a control cab 110. A roof 120 can be provided to shield the platform 105 from weather. The platform 105 can have leveling jacks 101 on the corners for stability, leveling and/or raising the platform 105 to the seam height. The platform 105 can be moved laterally by using either walking plates placed under the corner jacks 101, by crawlers 103 or by a trailer (not shown) located under the platform 105 depending on the needs of the user.

[0107]FIG. 3 shows the miner 300 underground cutting the ore and feeding the mined material back to a conveyor 165 within a shield 145, which ore is ultimately fed back to the platform 105. The present invention can be used with many types of miners, including but not limited to the type of miner shown in FIG. 3.

[0108]FIGS. 4a and 4 b show the preferred means for connecting multiple material transfer units 501. A connecting arm 453 from a first material transfer units 501 fits over a pin 441 on a second material transfer unit 501′, connecting the end of the first material transfer unit 501 to the second material transfer unit 501′ and a shear pin 455 is preferably inserted above the connecting arm 453 to keep the arm 453 from raising off the pin 441. Multiple shields 145 may be connected together in a similar manner.

[0109]FIG. 5a shows a front view of the driver/puller 200. The driver/puller 200 is preferably comprised of two planetary gear boxes 203 supported by a frame 207. The frame 207 is a solid structure carrying the two planetary gear boxes 203 from side to side along the length of the platform. The planetary gear boxes 203 drive sprockets 209 forward and reverse in a sprocket chain 137 which is attached to a beam or plate 138 running the length of the platform 105 allowing the same force to be applied the total travel in forward or reverse. To keep the sprocket 209 teeth from walking up and out of the chain 137, heavy-duty rollers 215 are preferably attached around a beam flange 213 or hold down plate.

[0110] For pushing, two inner hooks 452 and two outer hooks 454 are recessed into the face of the frame 207 when the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 and the driver/puller 200 are located at same elevation. When pulling the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 in reverse, the hooks 452 and/or 454 are connected to pins 403 and 441 on the shields 145 and material transfer units 501. Either the hooks 452 and 454 can be used simultaneously to pull out the shields 145 and material transfer units 501 together or the inner hooks 452 can be used alone to pull out just the material transfer units 501 and, if desired, the miner 300, from within the shields 145.

[0111]FIG. 5b shows a side cut view looking in behind the sprockets 209 showing the frame 207, the heavy-duty roller wheels 215 attached above and below the beam flange 213, inner hooks 452 and outer hooks 454 recessed in frame 207 and the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 at same elevation as driver/puller 200.

[0112]FIGS. 5c and 5 d show a side view of the driver/puller 200 and the planetary gear box 203 with drive sprocket 209 attached and riding in a heavy-duty crawler tractor type chain 137. FIG. 4c shows outer hook 454 in the up (or recessed) position and FIG. 4d shows outer hook 454 in the down and locked position over pin 403 as used for pulling the shield 145 from the hole.

[0113]FIGS. 6a-6 e show several types of material transfer units which can be used independently within the shields 145. These examples are not exhaustive of the types of material transfer units which may be used with the present invention.

[0114]FIG. 7a shows an alternate method of using the driver/puller 200 to drive the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 from above rather than having the driver/puller 200 and the shielded material transfer units 145 & 501 at the same elevation as described above, see also FIG. 1c. The heavy-duty rollers 215 are attached to a beam flange 213 or plate above the driver/puller 200 and apply pressure downward to keep the sprockets 209 from walking up and out of the chain 137.

[0115]FIG. 7b shows pusher arms 457 that are employed when a shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 is driven from above as shown in FIG. 7a. If desired, the pusher arms 457 may be designed to rotate to an up position. This orientation of the pusher arms 457 allows a shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 to be positioned while the driver/puller 200 is still pushing the prior shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 into the mine. Once the prior unit 145 & 501 has been pushed completely forward and the subsequent shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 is positioned on the platform 105, the pusher arms 457 can be raised and returned to a location behind the next unit 145 to be pushed forward into the mine. The pusher arms 457 are then lowered, as shown in FIG. 7c and are available to push the next shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 into the mine, once it has been hooked to the prior shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501. As shown in FIGS. 7d-7 f, the pusher arms 457 can support a blade 459 across the width of a material transfer unit 501 which can be lowered into the unit 501 to push or scrape material out the rear of a material transfer unit 501. FIGS. 7d and 7 e show the blade 459 in the down or scraping position. FIG. 7f shows the blade 459 in the raised position, allowing a shielded material transfer unit 145 & 501 to pass beneath the blade 459.

[0116] While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: a platform; an advancing means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine; and a retrieving means for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine.
 2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the platform further includes a leveling means for leveling the platform.
 3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the mining vehicle is a miner.
 4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein the platform further includes controls for controlling the miner, power and water supply to the miner and miner hydraulics.
 5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the advancing means comprises: at least one drive gear; at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear; and a motorized means for driving the drive gear.
 6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the drive gear is a sprocket and the drive gear belt is a chain which accepts the sprocket.
 7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the advancing means further comprises a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.
 8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the at least one drive gear is driven by at least one planetary gear box.
 9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the advancing means further comprises an attachment means for connecting to the mining vehicle.
 10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the attachment means is a hook and pin system.
 11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the motorized means is capable of moving forward and in reverse along the platform.
 12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the retrieving means comprises: at least one drive gear; at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear; and a motorized means for driving the drive gear.
 13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the drive gear is a sprocket and the drive gear belt is a chain which accepts the sprocket.
 14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the retrieving means further comprises a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.
 15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the at least one drive gear is driven by at least one planetary gear box.
 16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the at least one mining vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a miner, a material transfer unit and a shield.
 17. An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: a platform; an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: at least one drive gear; at least one drive gear belt which accepts the drive gear; a motorized means for driving the drive gear; and a retaining means for retaining the drive gear in contact with the drive gear belt.
 18. An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: a platform; an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: at least one sprocket; at least one chain which accepts the sprocket; a planetary gear box for driving the sprocket; and a retaining means for retaining the sprocket in contact with the chain.
 19. An apparatus for pushing at least one mining vehicle into a mine and for retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: a platform; an advancing and retrieving means for advancing the mining vehicle into a mine and retrieving the mining vehicle from the mine, comprising: two sprockets; two chains which each accept one of the two the sprockets; a planetary gear box for driving the sprockets; and a retaining means for retaining the sprockets in contact with the chains. 